Legal Action Filed Against The New York Times by Baldoni and Associates

Dec. 31, 2024: Baldoni, Wayfarer & Others Sue The New York Times

On December 31, a group of companies including Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath, Sarowitz, Nathan, TAG, Abel, RWA Communications, Wallace, and Street Relations took significant legal action by filing a lawsuit against The New York Times. This lawsuit highlights serious allegations regarding libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of an implied-in-fact contract. These claims arise from a controversial article published by the newspaper that accused the plaintiffs of conducting a retaliatory smear campaign against actress Blake Lively after she raised concerns about alleged misconduct occurring on set.

The lawsuit, which has been reported by E! News, asserts that the claims presented in the article are “false” and primarily based on Lively’s CRD complaint. The plaintiffs vehemently deny these allegations and argue that the messages referenced in both the article and the complaint were manipulated and taken out of context, significantly distorting the truth.

In a striking statement from the lawsuit, it is claimed, “Despite its assertion of having ‘reviewed these along with other documents[,]’ the Times largely depended on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative.” The document criticizes the publication for quoting Lively’s accounts almost verbatim while neglecting a wealth of evidence that contradicts her assertions and reveals her true intentions.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs contend that it was Lively, rather than themselves, who engaged in a calculated smear campaign against them, a claim that she has firmly rejected. This ongoing legal battle has drawn significant attention, raising questions about media ethics and the responsibility of news organizations to report accurately.

In response to the lawsuit, The New York Times has expressed its intention to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.” The publication emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity, stating, “The role of an independent news organization is to follow the facts where they lead.” They assert that their article was meticulously and responsibly crafted, based on a thorough review of thousands of pages of original documents, including text messages and emails that were quoted accurately and extensively throughout the piece.